Foreign and Colonial Intelligence

The Illustrated London News,
vol. 44,
no. 1248,
p. 246.

March 12, 1864

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL
INTELLIGENCE.

AMERICA.

We have news from New York to Feb. 24. It consists mainly of
conflicting rumours. First, we are informed that Sherman had reached
Quitman, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, with a force estimated at
between 25,000 and 30,000 men; that he had defeated Polk, near
Brandon, and captured 12,000 prisoners; and that Admiral Farragut was
preparing to attack the Confederates at Grant's Pass. A different
statement, however, is made in the Richmond papers. Those papers
assert that the Federals have been repulsed with great loss at Grant's
Pass, and that the Federal force at Quitman consisted of about 1000
men employed in tearing up the railroad. Nothing is said, however,
about the alleged defeat of Polk. General Longstreet was rumoured to
have retired from the neighbourhood of Knoxville, and to have
retreated beyond the French Broad River. General Gilmore had returned
from Florida to Port Royal, and reported that his expedition had been
successful. The Confederates have been twice repulsed in an attack
upon the Federals opposite Natchez, Mississippi. General Meade will
retain the command of the army of the Potomac during the next
campaign.

The Committee of Ways and Means reported back the bill authorising
the Secretary of the Treasury to sell the surplus gold, with a
recommendation that it be not passed, and that no further action be
taken.

The National Executive Committee had nominated Mr. Chase for the
presidency, while the Maryland State Union Convention had named
Mr. Lincoln.